Happy Gathering!

Today, I had a good chat with my old friends and sister. I have not seen them or talked to them for a long time. It's good to gather once awhile to catch up with them. :D

17th November 2007 - In Memory of xxx

17th November was a sad day for my family. We could have welcomed a new member to our family next year, but it did not turn out well. Nature had its way, the doctor had said, and nothing could stop or prevent it. I guess this is FATE. :(

My Son's Graduation!

Auntie Lim, Teacher Rahimah & Yu Hong


Yu Hong with his Graduation Certificate :D

Family photo :P


Finally, Yu Hong's first graduation ceremony at Apply Tree Playgroup.

Shock!

Today, I got a rude shock from a pupil in the class that I was teaching. I was conducting an enrichment class in a "popular" school in the West. I guess it was the last day of school, so a number of pupils were rather restless and wanting to play or talk with their friends, although their teacher was also in class. Nevertheless, I had to finish the workshop, so I tried to coax them to continue with their work. At one time, the teacher tried to help me by asking the pupils to "show respect to the trainer (that's me)". Then, one boy stood up and talked back at the teacher. He said rudely,"Why should I show respect when you never show respect to me!"

I was shocked at his words! I saw the teacher was also at a loss of words.

A Day at the Bank!

Today, I was going to Kovan to set up a computer program. On the way, I passed by a bank and I decided to withdraw some money from the ATM. After I got the money, I realized that I could do a cash card refund as the card was expiring. My cash card was also an ATM card. I went to join the main queue in the bank. I waited for about 15 minutes before I was served. When I showed the counter staff or the cashier my card and told her about my intention, she immediately told me to go to counter 6.

As directed, I went over to counter 6 which looked like an Inquiry Counter. The counter staff was serving a lady who had absentmindedly left her $500 at the ATM machine after withdrawing it. She told the staff that it was not her first time and she anxiously would like to know whether the machine had "taken" the money back. The staff politely advised the lady that she had no idea as she had never encountered such a problem before. They talked for quite awhile and the queue started to become longer. Finally, the staff showed the lady the report she had written for her and got her to sign for it. The lady still lingered at the counter, turning her bag upside down to make sure she did not "absentmindedly" put the money in her bag. The man behind the lady immediately asked the staff about his query. Then, it was finally my turn after a long wait. She told me to fill up the form, which I already did. But I told her the form was meant for the normal cash card and not my "special card"! She realized it and gave it a queue number. She pointed to another part of the bank with a few cubicles. Oh my! I had to wait for my TURN again! I sat down on a chair and in front of me was a man talking to another staff about his problem. They were pointing to a piece of paper and the man was trying to tell the staff that there was no need to open another investment account as he was just renewing his contract or some sort. It was another long wait ...

I got tired of waiting, so I decided to tell the staff at the inquiry counter that I was not going to wait any longer. She kindly told me that I was the next one, but I had waited for more than 20 minutes and it was still not my turn! She then advised me to join the main queue. I told I came from the main queue and now she asked me to join the main queue AGAIN! She took me back to the first counter staff and told her to serve me after the current customer. What! I thought she could not process my refund. Finally, I realized that she did not know the procedure for the refund. She asked a senior staff and she also did not know how. Then, I saw the senior staff in jacket left the bank with another staff, probably for her break. The counter staff took my identity card and disappeared from the counter! After awhile, she came back with a more senior staff - probably the manager.

Finally, there was someone who knew how to process my refund. She issued me with a new ATM card while keeping my old card. I never like going to the bank because of the long queue. I enjoy my banking online.

What Sickness?

I did a quick diagnose of my sickness. Started with sore throat, then came running nose and cough. Seems to me, it is a kind of common illness that I had before. I would feel cold on my forehead, though I might be sweating. I have yellow mucus and phlegm, which indicates that my body is feeling "heaty".

Based on that, I should avoid cold drink and chili, so as not to aggravate my sore throat and cough. I should avoid taking "heaty" food and take in more "cooling" stuffs. That reminds me that I should buy some Chrysanthemum tea. :D

Feeling sick...!

I am not feeling too well recently. I started to have a bit of sore throat last Friday. I think I must have been using too much of my voice recently as I have been going around the island to conduct workshops for pupils on the use of calculators. I tried to drink more water but sometimes I only drank a bit before and after the workshop.

Well, last Friday, my family and my wife's sisters went to Downtown East. I went there quite late as I had classes till 9pm. We stayed there for three days and two nights as my wife's brother-in-law had booked the chalet through his company.

The following day, we went to Wild Wild Wet. The weather was good as it was cloudy without much sunlight. It was a mistake not to apply sun-block as we came back with over-tanned skin!!! So remember, even though the sky might look cloudy, apply your sun-block. There were a number of slides you could play there, but we could only play those which my 3 year-old boy could play. We went into this "lazy pool" which we sat onto this big round float and the current would bring you round and round. Later, we went to the "wave pool" where strong waves were "made" and you could move with the waves. Next, we went to the jacuzzi pool where we relaxed ourselves under the sun. There was a party going on next to the jacuzzi pool. I think it was a child's birthday party.

I find the entrance fee to the Wild Wild Wet a bit expensive. $12.80 for each adult.
I find it strange for people to pay entrance fee each time they enter the chalet area, although each chalet was given 4 entrance tickets. So, before you leave the chalet compound, you must get the security guard to stamp your arm. Then, the guard will check your arm for the stamp under the ultra violet light when you return to your chalet.

Student charged with abusing teacher in class

A 17-YEAR-OLD student was charged on Wednesday with using abusive language on a teacher in class earlier this year.

Jeremy Tan Wei Liang is accused of abusing Ms Tang Anqiong, 36, at Clementi Woods Secondary School at West Coast Road on April 26.

His lawyer, Mr Edmond Pereira, told the court that he would be making representations. A pre-trial conference will be held at Community Court on Dec 5.

If convicted, he faces a fine of up to $5,000 under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Workshops and more workshops!

Recently, I have been busy going around conducting workshops for students. The workshop is meant for P4 pupils who will be using calculators next year as part of the change in the Mathematic syllabus.

The other day, I went to this all-boy school and started greeting them "boys and girls"! They stared at me and told me there were no girls in their school. Haha! I told them I was used to greeting "boys and girls" for a few years already.

The common question they usually asked is "How to switch off the calculator?". Well, the calculator used is the Casio, model FX-82AU, which is currently used by the secondary students. Well, there is another brand, Sharp. I understand this model will be used by Zhangde Primary School. Also, the pupils in Xinmin Secondary are also using this model.

This morning, I met my old friend, old classmate and old "relative", who shares the same surname as me, in a primary school I went. She is Michelle. Well, she is getting married next March, so I must start saving for her ang pao! Haha! :P

Another of my "relative" is also getting married soon, this end of year. I hope she is all ready to become the Bride of the Year!!! :D

Jailed for importing dog without licence

HOW much is that doggie in the window?

The Singaporean man who claimed he bought this cute puppy from a pet shop in Malacca has found that it cost him a three-week jail sentence.

Tan Chai Teck, 29, pleaded guilty yesterday to importing the two-month-old white and brown shih tzu into Singapore, without a licence, on Aug 20.

Tan, a mechanic, had arrived at Woodlands Checkpoint in a taxi with a Malaysian friend, Ching Mee Ling, 32, a masseuse, at about 12.10am that day.

A police officer found the puppy in a paper bag which Ching was carrying. Neither of them could produce any import document for the puppy.

Yesterday, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Ching who failed to show up to answer the summons.

Agri-Food and Veterinary Services prosecuting officer Yap Teck Chuan, in pointing out that smuggling of pets like small dogs was hard to detect, sought a deterrent sentence for Tan.

He said any dog or cat imported from any country, except Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Ireland, had to be vaccinated against rabies and subsequently quarantined.

This is 'to safeguard Singapore against the introduction of diseases, especially rabies', he said. Someone bitten by a rabies-infected dog might die of the viral disease.

Malaysia, Mr Yap said, is not free from rabies.

Tan could have been fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to 12 months or both under the Animals and Birds Act. Dogs here need a licence issued by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority.

Meanwhile, Tan will not have to serve his sentence immediately as he has been given until Nov 30 to settle his personal matters first.

In 2001, a Malaysian taxi driver was jailed three months for smuggling four puppies into Singapore in his vehicle.